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Re: [RC] 30/60 mins at finish - Joe LongOn Tue, 08 Jul 2003 09:10:09 -0700, terre <tobytrot@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: Although I have no strong preferences either way, I have always thought that allowing 60 minutes to reach criteria at the finish is inconsistent with "fit to continue", since the horse would be pulled for that during the ride (ie, a horse that does not hit criteria within 30 minutes is NOT fit to continue). It may be more a matter of allowing people a longer time to pull tack and clean up before presenting for completion as opposed to an inability to reach the pulse criterion. And taking the pressure off any vet line-ups, since BC judging is often happening during this time.... There are all of those reasons for it, but also the recognition that horses racing for placing compete at a higher level of stress on the last leg to the finish line, often sprinting against each other for a quarter mile, a mile, even four miles or more. Such sprinting creates short-term oxygen debts that can take longer to recover than the pace throughout a ride, but are not harmful on the last leg. Certainly, a horse that needs longer than 30 minutes to recover to 60 bpm should not continue *at that elevated level of stress* -- but unless there are other problems, he is certainly fit to continue at a slower pace. As he is not, in fact, continuing and being stressed further, that allows for an extended recovery time. -- Joe Long jlong@xxxxxxxx http://www.rnbw.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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